Merrimack scores three late goals to beat UVM

Oct. 26, 2012

NORTH ANDOVER— Jordan Heywood’s goal with 4:44 remaining in the third period cracked a 3-3 deadlock and propelled Merrimack to a 6-3 victory over Vermont on Friday.

Merrimack wiped out a 2-0 Vermont lead with a three-goal second period, but the Catamounts’ Chris McCarthy pulled his team even at 5:24 of the third.

It stayed that way until Heywood blew the lead goal past Vermont freshman goalie Brody Hoffman (26 saves; 5 goals allowed) late in the third.

Two late overlapping Catamount penalties crushed UVM’s chances for a rally and set up a two-man power play goal by Josh Myers for the Warriors. Merrimack added an empty netter for the finishing touch on the Warriors’ sixth straight win over Vermont.

The Warriors (2-3-0; 1-1-0 HEA) controlled much of the opening period, ringing up nine shots to UVM’s 2, until successive Merrimack penalties at mid-period energized the Catamounts (0-1-1; 0-1-1 HEA). UVM didn’t convert the first but Jonathan Turk recorded his first Vermont goal at 15:03 off a Matt White assist on the second power play.

Another power play resulted in Vermont’s second goal. This time, with Kyle Reynolds screening in front, Nick Bruneteau sent in a high shot that flashed past Merrimack goalie Sam Marotta (29 saves). Turk and Connor Brickley earned the assists at 6:00.

Right after that, Catamounts’ Brickley and Mike Paliotta drew overlapping penalties, giving the Warriors a two-man advantage for 1:14. Merrimack quickly took advantage with Connor Toomey connecting at 9:39. The Catamounts killed off the remainder of the second penalty to preserve the 2-1 lead.

Merrimack pulled even at 13:27 as Rhett Bly deflected a drive past Hoffman.

With 22.3 seconds left in the second, the Warriors snatched their first lead as a wide-open Vinny Scotti beat Hoffman, producing a 3-2 advantage through 40 minutes.

Outshooting Merrimack 9-0 early in the third, Vermont tied the game when Chris McCarthy hopped on a rebound and hit the open net at 5:24, Jacob Fallon picking up his first Catamount point with an assist.